MURAL FOR THE LOST
03 Jun 2020
A giant public memorial has been painted on the carpark of Corona Park in Queens, NYC, that is dedicated to essential workers and the disproportionate number of PoC who have died from COVID-19.
Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada spray painted the giant public memorial. Every life is important, unique and incalculable and the work memorialises the hard work and sacrifice of essential workers. Called Somos la Luz – ‘we are light’ in Spanish – the land mural is almost 2508 square metres in size, and is so big that it can be seen from space.
“The large-scale works that I have created around the world convey that we need to come together to make the world a better place. The size is directly related to the importance of the theme,” states Rodríguez-Gerada.
In addition to its related name, Corona Park was chosen by the artist as it is situated in one of New York City’s hardest-hit neighbourhoods, which is also where a disproportionate number of Latinos have died from the virus. The mural is a homage to black, Latino and the working class who form the majority of essential and front-line workers – the people that make cities move. Its huge size symbolises the importance of protecting these communities and conveys a message of unity.
Wearing a face mask and head covering, the doctor immortalised in the mural is Somos Care’s Doctor Ydelfonso Decoo, who died from the virus. Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada’s work was produced alongside the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Queens Museum, El Museo Del Barrio, and Make the Road New York.
Via designboom | Images courtesy of Eduardo Amorim, Greenpoint Innovations